District attorney drops probe into Run, Ed, Run

Tools

There is “insufficient evidence to proceed with any further investigation” into the Chinatown-backed campaign to get Ed Lee to run for mayor, District Attorney George Gascon said in a statement released Friday.

Gascon made the decision after consulting the Attorney General’s Office as to whether there is a conflict of interest with him conducting the investigation as his opponents in the district attorney’s race have suggested.

“I take seriously any allegation of public corruption or violation of election laws and have been employing the proper legal procedures and practices to address the allegations that have been made,” Gascon’s statement said. “The power of a prosecutors’ office to launch an investigation and charge a criminal case is an awesome responsibility that must never be taken lightly or misused for any purpose.”

The investigation began following a letter from retired judge and former state Sen. Quentin Kopp. That letter called for an investigation into a signature drive conducted by employees of Recology, a quasi-governmental utilities company that recently scored a major contract with The City.

“Shortly after receiving the Kopp letter, my Office made initial outreach to the Attorney General’s Office to ensure that there was no possible conflict,” Gascon said. “The Attorney General's Office has looked at the question and informed my Office that they see no such conflict, and I now feel comfortable addressing the issues that have been raised regarding Progress For All and the Run, Ed Run campaign.”

While Gascon plans to look no further into the campaign, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has been poking around. The office said it has no comment.